Rowers compete for youth championship

Published 1:00 am, Wednesday, June 28, 2006

The staff of the GMS Rowing Center on Grove Street molds students into lean, mean, rowing machines.

Its location on the banks of the Housatonic River is perfect, said
Kathy L'Hommedieu
, a coach who teaches rowing.

Earlier this month, the club sent a group of young rowers to the Youth Invitational Championships in Cincinnati, where they competed against more than 200 boats from across the country. One of the GMS rowers,
Mike Orzolek
, 17, of New Milford, placed eighth in the country for single boat rowing.

"I think that next year, as they get older and train more, they can do even better," said Isik, the coach of the boys team at GMS.

Orzolek, who just graduated from
New Milford High School
, is a singles rower who has been with the center for the past few years and is now moving on to college. Next year he'll be attending
Mercyhurst College
in Erie, Pa., on a crew scholarship.

Orzolek said that his development is a direct result of participating in the GMS program.

"It's the best program in the Northeast," Orzolek said. "We've got the best coaches and the best water to practice on. They (GMS) have really helped me to develop my rowing skills."

Orzolek hopes that rowing with others at the college level will help him develop even further in the sport.

"My first season rowing I was in a boat with eight other guys, and as time went on I went to a four-seater, then a double, and then a single. With each move I received more attention from the coaches. That attention helped me get better at rowing. Going to college will help me develop even further."

GMS was founded by
Guenter Beutter
, a former coach of the German National Rowing Team.

Beutter is happy with the growth the club has experienced. "Rowing is important to us, and it's nice to see people in the area embrace it. The people we have rowing seem to really enjoy it."

Originally the center was located at the old New Milford Bleachery, then moved when better facilities became available. Now they operate out of an old tobacco barn on Grove Street, stacked to the rafters with boats.

Since moving, the club has the ability to practice during the winter. There is a weight room in the barn that includes professional rowing machines.

GMS welcomes anyone that wants to try their hand at rowing. L'Hommedieu, who coaches adults and women, said that it isn't a hard sport to get used to.

"I had no rowing experience until a few years ago and now I'm coaching it," she said. "It takes hard work and determination but it's a lot of fun."